Arena Pharmaceuticals Continues Phase 3 BLOOM Obesity Trial Following Independent Echocardiogaphic Data Safety Monitoring Bo...(renapharm.com and will be archived ther...)

About Lorcaserin

Lorcaserin, Arena's orally administered, internally discovered drug candidate for the treatment of obesity, is in an ongoing Phase 3 program. The compound stimulates the 5-HT2C serotonin receptor, located in the hypothalamus, an area of the brain associated with the control of satiety and metabolism. Results from a Phase 2 study demonstrated that treatment with lorcaserin produced highly statistically significant, progressive and dose-dependent weight loss over a 12-week period. Lorcaserin was generally well tolerated at all doses and had no apparent effects on heart valves or pulmonary artery pressure.

About Obesity

Obesity affects tens of millions of people in the United States and poses a serious long-term threat to their health and welfare. The number of overweight and obese people has substantially increased over the past several decades. Approximately two-thirds of all adults in the United States are obese or overweight, and medical and related costs of obesity were more than $123 billion in 2001. Being obese or overweight is associated with increased risk of a number of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and osteoarthritis. Medical treatment options for obese and overweight people currently are limited.

About Arena Pharmaceuticals

Arena is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing oral drugs in four major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, central nervous system, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Arena's most advanced product candidate, lorcaserin, is being investigated in a Phase 3 clinical trial program for the treatment of obesity. Arena's broad pipeline of novel compounds targeting G pr
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